In The Barn

A highlight of the Shepherd’s Harvest will be the “living catalog” of sheep breeds. A wide variety of wool and meat breeds will be on display. You can expect to see everything from Black Welsh Mountain to CVM~Romeldale Sheep. Visitors will have the opportunity to talk with shepherds about their particular breed and sheep may be sold by private treaty.

The Minnesota Lamb and Wool Producers Youth will have an educational booth set up in the sheep barn. You can find a variety of information related to the sheep industry; including recipes, magazines, and facts about the wool & lamb industries.

Clear Spring Farm located near Welch, Minnesota, will have a few friendly yak on hand for fiber enthusiasts to see and touch. Yak produce fiber similar to cashmere and regardless if it’s raw or processed , yak fiber has much potential. Clear Spring Farm maintains the highest standards in animal management and fiber processing to bring you exceptional quality products. Yak yarn and mittens will be available for purchase.

Sheep Barn Demos Page:

Come play in the Sheep Barn during the festival, where you will also find many varieties of fiber sheep and goats, as well as the shepherds who care for them.

Wash your Wool and Have a Ball!Location: Outside the Sheep BarnDate/Time: Saturday 10am, noon, 2pm, 4pm & Sunday, 10am, noon, 2pmDemonstrator: Linda Johnson-MorkeWool has many unique properties and one of them is the ability to felt. Learn how to wash raw wool and then felt a ball to take with you. The ball can be used as a pet toy, a child’s toy or a dryer ball!

Fleece SkirtingLocation: Outdoor PavilionDate/Time: Daily 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. during shearingCoordinator: Jody M.Learn how to skirt a fleece, how to separate out the belly and tags, and how to protect the fleece from contamination during its harvest and packaging.

How to Select and Prepare Fleece to send to the Fiber MillLocation: Sheep BarnDay/time: Saturday and Sunday On-goingDemonstrators: Lindsay Kurth – Kurth Valley Fiber MillCome watch a demo on how to prepare your fleece for the Fiber Mill, she will discuss fiber options and blends, as well as getting the most bang for your buck when having fleece processed at a fiber mill. Plus you can watch a video on the Fiber Mill process.

Barn Jenga
Location: Sheep Barn
Date/Time: Saturday & Sunday on-going
Presented by Cashmere Haven
It’s the classic block-stacking, stack-crashing game of Jenga … with a
little something extra. Answering the question correctly on the block
you pick gives you another turn. See how high you can get the stack!

See how much you know about fiber, while testing your balancing
skills at the same time. Don’t have much fiber knowledge? Play the
game while learning a few things at the same time.

Jacobs Sheep
Location: Sheep Barn
Date/Time: Saturday and Sunday – On-going
Demonstrator: Marcia Hathaway – Joxers Jacobs Farm
Learn about Jacobs, the uniqueness of their horns, the color of their coat, their genetics and talk about why they are listed on the conservancy list.

Sheep Handling DemoLocation: PavilionDate/Time: Saturday, 2pmDemonstrator: Jim PetersonJim is a professional sheep shearer. He will talk about controlling sheep with the use of chutes, gates, dogs, and by hand. He will discuss catching, moving, throwing and holding sheep. Good information for owners of a pet sheep to shepherds of large flocks!

Shepherding BasicsLocation: PavilionDate/Time: Saturday 3:30 – 4:00Demonstrator: Heidi QuistIf you are considering owning your own fiber flock, this demonstration will cover what you need to know. Topics will include basic nutrition, housing and health-care needs.